Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed the allocation of substantial additional government funding under the Local Improvement Scheme.

Earlier this year Cavan County Council was allocated €336,913 and now have been granted an additional €1,404,498 resulting in a total allocation this year of €1,741,411

Monaghan County Council was originally allocated €304,736 and will now have an additional €1,037,988 making a total of  €1,342,724 available for these roadworks in 2023.

These are welcome and much needed additional allocations which will help deal with the backlog of roads that need repair.  The Local Improvement Scheme is an important scheme for many households in our rural communities.  It is essential that our rural roads and laneways are brought up to a proper standard to ensure that people have good access to their homes” stated Brendan Smith TD.

ENDS

JULY 28 2023

Local Fianna Fáil TD, Brendan Smith, has welcomed a significant increase in the number of third level places available in healthcare courses, including therapy places to support disability services.

 From September, this will include:

• An increase of 100 places in the undergraduate intake in key therapies, including 50 places available in Northern Ireland;
• The roll-out of Post-Leaving Cert courses to train speech and language therapist assistants in five Education and Training Boards, with an estimated 120 students expected on these programmes.
• The provision of 665 additional places in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and other key healthcare courses, including 200 places in nursing in Northern Ireland.

Deputy Brendan Smith said,  “Increasing the workforce is absolutely essential to addressing demands in the healthcare system and to improving access to the services people rely on.

“The further and higher education sector has a critical role to play in ensuring that our healthcare services have the staff they need to deliver the care that people need, and these places are an important step in that direction.  

“Increasing the supply of therapists is the best way of ensuring that the HSE can deliver much needed interventions for children and cut the waiting lists for Assessment of Need.  

“I was particularly pleased to see that five Education and Training Boards (ETBs) including Cavan and Monaghan ETB will be providing speech and language assistant Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses from September. 

“It’s important that we have a clear pipeline of appropriately qualified people and today’s announcement demonstrates Fianna Fáil’s commitment to bolster the potential staff available to support people.”

Local Fianna Fáil TD, Brendan Smith, has raised the need for additional funding for local roads across Cavan and Monaghan with Tánaiste Micheál Martin and with the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD.

Deputy Brendan Smith said,  “There has been a welcome and much-needed increase in Government funding for the non-national road network in the last few years but unfortunately inflation has eaten into the available resources.

“In a series of Parliamentary Questions, I have highlighted again the urgent requirement for additional investment due to the very substantial increase in costs that have arisen over the past two years in road maintenance products and construction works and also the additional traffic on our roads due to increased economic activity and a growing population” stated Deputy Brendan Smith.

Deputy Brendan Smith concluded by seeking assurance that in the mid-year review of the 2023 capital programme, priority will be given to a further allocation to local authorities of grant aid for regional, county and local roads. 

“The councils in my constituency, Cavan and Monaghan, have the capacity to put such funding to good use in the best interests of rural communities,” he said. 

Fianna Fáil is committed to supporting the regeneration of our rural towns and villages. Applications for the €15m Town and Village Renewal Scheme is now open for applications via your Local Authority. For more info: https://tinyurl.com/4cad73ry

🏠↗️ Another increase in commencements this month shows actions under #HousingforAll are working.

We’re using multiple avenues to increase supply and will continue to do everything possible to ensure commencements continue in this positive direction.

The income thresholds for cost-rental homes are increasing from €53,000 to €66,000 in Dublin, and to €59,000 elsewhere from August 1st.

Cost-rental tenants are charged an amount that covers the cost of delivering and managing a home – a minimum 25% below local market rents.

Promoting care in the community for older people and improving access to home support is a key priority for Fianna Fáil in Government. Increased rates of funding for carers will give certainty and stability to the sector and help make caring a more viable career option.

It helps bridge the gap between your deposit and mortgage, and the price of a new home.

5,082 registered

2,033 approvals across 24 counties

490 sales closed

The average equity is €67,409

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/zy72xt7w

Grants have been increased:

🟢 Local project grants up to €200,000.
🟢 Regional project grants up to €500,000.

Eligible sport clubs, community groups and organisations can apply here https://www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie/

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD, Brendan Smith, has welcomed the approval by the Department of Education of funding for Crosskeys National School to carry out repairs to a section of the school roof/facade.

Deputy Smith stated that this funding is being provided under the Department’s Emergency Works Scheme and he complimented the Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD,  on the major schools building programme underway throughout the country. He also paid tribute to the Principal and staff and the Board of Management and Parents’ Association on their work in having the school facilities upgraded in Crosskeys.

ENDS

JULY 18 2023